A press release stated that BMW has taken a cautious resolution to return to the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) race series. Accepting BMW accomplishes particular prerequisites set out by ITR which is the organization behind DTM, the German producer will take part in the 2012 race season with the BMW M3.
Mario Theissen the BMW Motor sport Director stated that, “The planned return to the DTM is an exciting challenge for our team. Over the coming months we will be making all the necessary technical preparations that should allow us to be competitive right from the start should we join the series in 2012.”
The DTM, identified in English as the German Touring Car Masters, has presently raced solely with cars constructed by BMW’s major competitors. In 2009, racing variants of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class AMG and the Audi A4 were utilized by the seven teams who took part in the race. These teams selected 21 drivers throughout ten rounds of racing from May to October. Circuits used for the series are established primarily in Germany, with extra races in France, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

BMW has affirmed the hearsays that it will construct front-wheel drive cars. Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW announced this at the Annual Accounts Press Conference for 2010. He stated that “The small car segment is expected to grow further. And we will take advantage of this opportunity. We are exploring the possibility of developing a joint architecture for the front and four-wheel drive systems of these cars. In other words: There will be front-wheel drive BMWs in the smaller vehicle classes in the future. Heresy, BMW fans – We wouldn’t worry too much – there seems little chance that BMW will make a wholesale switch from powering the rear wheels to the fronts, especially for its mainstream models like the 3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series – but the addition of a FWD chassis will make it easier for the automaker to share platforms with other companies and to reduce [its] fleet’s carbon-emissions worldwide by at least another 25 percent between 2008 and 2020.”

Dr. Reithofer stated further that “We consider carbon fiber a cutting-edge material for the auto industry. Our efforts will make sustainable mobility possible in urban environments.”

John Zeng, an IHS Global Insight analyst in Shanghai remarked that “If Volvo chooses China as its second home market, that’s probably going to trigger a price war in the premium segment.” He also stated that “cars can sell for 50 percent more in China than in the U.S.”

Ingolstadt, the Germany-based Audi signifies to oppose its leadership position and has programs to sell 200,000 cars in China in 2010 which is up from 159,000 last year. BMW sold 90,500 vehicles in the country in 2009.

With so much at chance, all three auto manufacturers program to broaden local production. BMW is elaborating its present Chinese factory and constructing a second one at a cost of 560 million euros to more than twice its capacity and build around 100,000 vehicles. Daimler, the world’s second-largest luxury auto manufacturer, at present has capability to build 100,000 C- and E-Class models at a Chinese plant. Daimler Chief Executive Officer Dieter Zetsche said last week “The potential of the Chinese market remains enormous, and our targets are correspondingly ambitious.”

John Bonnell, who is the director of Asia-Pacific forecasting for J.D. Power & Associates and located in Bangkok, said “We expect competition to pressure prices should the market slow.”

The new 760 BMW has 544 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torsion in the big limousine. Doubters feel that BMW is dodging the numbers a little low down very diligently. It also does disregard the laws of aerodynamics.

Conceivably, this commotion of insistent increase of velocity is just a fantasy induced caused by the contiguous throttle reaction accessible at just 1,500 rpm. But, fused with the fresh eight-speed automatic diffusion the 760Li gives a feeling as if it would just continuously keep on speeding up forever. This is achievable with a whooping 250-kilometers-an-hour electronic governor.

When 760Li is compared with Mercedes’ S600, BMW arrogates a 4.6-second zero-to-100-km/h speedup time, precisely the same as Mercedes claims for its twin-turbo S600. The chassis is more than well furnished to manage space shuttle execution. BMW has apparently put in its entire knowledge linked with experience in chassis technology at its topflight. The “comfort” setting is soft and adapting.

One of the main attractions of the Li when compared to the regular 7 Series is that it has more extra room in the rear. In reality the back is convenient since it has much legroom in the rear. BMW 760Li has exceptional leather, a magnificent audio system and an enhanced iDrive system. The radio functionality is immensely bettered over the original; even now about four menu pages of the navigation system have to be searched to get info about a nearby gas station.

The 760Li holds back all the essential BMW-ness – extravagant and luxurious with the heart of a driver’s car which is its’ brand’s essence.

BMW has lifted out 7 awards from one of the country’s most important fleet magazines. Business Car magazine has conferred BMW with the title accolades of ‘Manufacturer of the Year’ and ‘Environmental Award of the Year’ in addition to 5 further product precise awards.

The BMW Group was coroneted as the king in 2 major honors. MINI was declared as ‘Supermini of the Year’. ‘Lower Medium Car of the Year’ was bagged by the three- and five-door BMW 1 Series models. ‘Medium Car of the Year’ was shared by BMW 3 Series Saloon and Touring ranges. BMW’s 5 Series Saloon and Touring were collectively awarded with ‘Executive Car of the Year’ and the BMW X5 was cited as ‘Large 4×4 of the Year’.

Paul Barker, Editor of Business Car stated that “The Manufacturer of the Year award reflects BMW’s huge range of appealing products that the corporate sector relies on, while the Environmental Award is richly deserved for the spectacular achievement of EfficientDynamics, which saves both companies and corporate drivers a large amount of money without any compromise in driving performance or specification.”

Sean Green, who is the Sales Director of BMW UK, articulated: “The corporate customer is an extremely important one for BMW which is why it’s fantastic to be honored by Business Car in so many categories. But with 166 BMW and MINI models emitting 160gkm of CO2 or less it is not hard to see why our products are so popular. With vehicles such as the 109g/km BMW 320d EfficientDynamics Saloon leading the way we fully expect to remain ahead of our premium rivals in 2010.”

Source: BMW

Object architect Jeff Koons has been solicited as the following artist for the BMW Art Car plan. The car crafted by him is supposed to be revealed to the public later in the current year.

The BMW Art Car program commenced in 1975 and 3.0 CSL model crafted by Alexander Calder for his driver Hervé Poulain was the first such car of its kind. This pilot mission was followed by 17 other cars being manufactured for the program.

Neither BMW nor Koons disclosed which car was to be used, or even the design to be made.

Frank-Peter Arndt who is a BMW board member said that “We are enormously pleased about Jeff Koons’ eagerly anticipated contribution to the BMW Art Car series, celebrating its 35th anniversary. Art Cars are part of the DNA of BMW’s cultural engagement. Our company and Jeff Koons are drawn to permanent innovation and cutting-edge technology. As manifested in Koons’ latest sculptural work, what unites us is the belief that nothing is impossible.”

Jeff Koons when he spoke from his studio in New York studio, said: “I always thought it would be an honour to work on a BMW Art Car, I look forward to participating in a tradition set forth by such great artists as Calder, Lichtenstein, Stella, and Warhol.”

With more than 100 key projects all over the world, BMW Group cultural plans have been an inherent part of the company’s shares to society for nearly 40 years.

Source & more images: World Car Fans

Based on a version to the InsideLine an unnamed “senior BMW authority out of Munich” stated that the German auto manufacturer will certainly manufacture a production edition of the Vision EfficientDynamics conception which was introduced last year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. BMW is apparently scheduling for a replica run between 5,000 and 10,000 units in the year 2013. Phew stated that “We’ll get to the details in a moment, but here’s the best news: That name that the marketing people forced on us [is] going to change for sure.”

Evidently, BMW is not planning to dump the revolutionary plug-in crossbreed power train, which stretch out 356 horsepower and of course a whooping 590 pound-feet of torsion in the conception. This only means that we will receive something comparable to the turbocharged 3-cylinder diesel variety extender and double electric motors catered by a lithium polymer battery pack. This was actually boasted in Frankfurt motor show. Sounds grand so far, and BMW arrogates the operation will even improve to more than the 4.8-second 0 to 60 run cited for the conception.

Of course a few of the Vision’s more bizarre external bits will follow the path of the Dodo. But the latest reports by the IL states that BMW’s objective of weight is still below 3,000 pounds. This only means that eminent-technique complexes and production techniques are a genuine lock. Prices for this next-generation eco-friendly super car have not being yet announced.

Pictures: Autoweek

BMW has stated that the sales revenues of 2009 slid by 4.7% as the depression hit requirement for best cars. BMW Group fomites sales fell down to 10.4% to 1.436m units, with receipts for the automotive part down 10.3%.

Norbert Reithofer who is the BMW board chairman stated that: “We are confident that the BMW Group will, as planned, be able to post a profit before tax for 2009. This demonstrates that rigorous cost management and other wide-ranging measures to improve profitability in conjunction with our Strategy Number ONE are taking effect.”

He further stated that “The BMW Group can start the new year with a certain amount of optimism. New models will provide tailwind over the course of the year. We fully intend to remain the world’s leading provider of premium vehicles in 2010 and plan to increase sales within the single digit percentage range to over 1.3 million units.”

BMW articulated that the universal financial and economic disaster will carry on to have an affect on the vehicle industry in the present year. Nevertheless, it anticipates to develop beneficially because of new models and the anticipated steady global economic revival in 2010.

BMW stated that its group sales developed powerfully in 2009 in the up-and-coming markets of Brazil (6,398 units +118.8%), China (90,536 units +37.5%) and India (3,619 units +24.4%), attaining records in new sales volume in all three markets. Actually in 2009 a total of 1,068,770 BMW brand cars were sold.

The 128i Convertible is supplied by BMW’s 3.0-liter, 230 horsepower aligned to a 6 cylinder engine which helps in generating 200 pound-feet of torsion. BMW’s EfficientDynamics aluminium /magnesium cylinder block construction-center components can be seen in the 128i Convertible. It also boasts of Valvetronic valvetrain organization.

The 135i Convertible contains BMW’s double-turbocharged 3.0-liter aligned to a 6 cylinder engine generating 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torsion from a mere 1,400 rpm.

With the direct gasoline gadgets, double stumpy-mass turbochargers and air-to-air inter cooling the 135i vehicle speeds up to 62 mph in 5.3 seconds while the Convertible attains the same in 5.6 seconds. Both engines have coolant pumps that amend fuel economy and decrease parasitic releases for altered output.

The 1-series Coupe boasts of a mistily 2002-barracked chassis and this includes the attribute ‘Hofmeister kink’ in the c-pillar. The standard body kit which is M Aerodynamic is seen on the 135i. On all models, the stem lid incorporates an included spoiler. The 135i has an extra lip spoiler for speedy rear down force. The L-shaped back tail lamps are LEDs with Adaptive Brake lamps, which function in two stages with regard to brake application force.

BMW’s contentious iDrive scheme has only with the elective steering system. The remaining interior follows BMW custom like galvanized pearl lustre airfoils on the inner door covers, glove section knob, the radio’s rotating handles, the handles of the mechanical air conditioning system, the (elective) iDrive manager and the decorative trim tiles on the steering wheel.

The modernized 3-Series of BMW is planned to be eternal and graceful with features like restyled headlights, changed bumpers, a new bonnet with broader kidney grillwork, LED tail lamps, and a broader grille. The interior of the coupe has no changes. In spite of this, the compartment is still lavish with darkness removed walnut wood trim, brilliant metal dialects, and ambiance illumination.

The 3.0-liter twin-turbo aligned-six is substituted by the new twin-scroll turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six. The coupe boasts of 306hp/225kW and 400 Nm of torque (US spec: 300 hp and 300 lb-ft torque), the N55 permits the 335i car to speed up from 0-100 km/h in 5.5 sec (0-60 mph in 5.3 sec; 5.5 seconds with the automatic). The Convertible achieves the same speed in 5.8 seconds (US spec: 5.5 seconds; 5.7 seconds with the mechanical), while the entire wheel drive 335i xDrive Coupe (US spec) achieves it in 5.2 seconds (5.3 with the automatic). Both makes have a restricted top speed of 130 mph, but can attain 150 mph with the elective Sport Package. In Europe, the speed is restricted to 250 km/h (155 mph).

Also anticipated for the 2011 3-Series change over range is the 335is which is a sportier edition of the 335i with somewhat more power. Regrettably, BMW has not brought out any info yet.

The 2011 3-Series will be on sale in the United States and Europe from this spring.

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